Drawstring bag
English, 1610–50
Item info from: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/119711

English, 1610–50
Item info from: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/119711

A beadworked bag, English, circa 1630, worked with white and clear carnation sprigs within golden beaded lozenges and a blue lattice, lined in white leather, plaited cord drawstring, 12cm, 3 3/4in wide pink silk upper edging is soiled and has perished in places revealing the leather lining, beadwork is coming away from the edging silk top left corner
I have no other info.
A beadworked purse, English, circa 1620-30, worked with a repeat design of blue and white florets and a brown lattice, edged in blue silk, with bottle-shaped beaded tassels to the drawstring, lined in kid leather, 11cm, 4 1/4inSplits in beadwork to front and back, lacking a few beads, silk upper edge is a little frayed, one of the tassels is missing a pendant motif – there are two not
A 17th Century glass beadwork purse: with legend “God Increz My Stoore 1636” and decorated in coloured beads with flowering shrubs, birds and plants
14cm. wide
V&A Accession number T.249-1960 | link to item at V&A
A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive. Their stylised floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy. Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money. This example is inscribed ‘the gift of a frend’.
The development of the ‘drawn-glass’ technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery
Citations: Hannah Robb, Purses and the Charitable Gift, Journal of Social History, Volume 49, Issue 2, Winter 2015, Pages 387–405, https://doi.org/10.1093/jsh/shv027
Beaded bag, 1623Signed TH GUIFT OF A FRIEND 1623
In good condition, with old restorations and later stitching along two vertical seams running from the bottom to the top border in between the I and E of ‘FRIEND’ and between ‘GIFT’ and ‘OF’. Wear and old restorations to the green ribbon border along the top
Height 4 in.
Mayorcas Ltd, London, January 1976;, Vogel Collection no. 233
Sold on Etsy.com:
A beautiful little 390 years plus survivor, made in England circa 1630 to 1640 during the reign of Charles 1. This SMALL little British bag was made on a netted ground with yellow under cloth and entirely covered in glass beads. Often in the past called Swete Bags for holding pleasant smelling herbs, it is now thought that its purpose was most likely as a gift containing charity money or alms by a Carolean period lady. The word ALMS a shortened form of the Greek eleēmosýnē meaning compassion.
For similar examples of this little swete bag please visit some of the world’s finest museums including – The MFA Museum, Boston, The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, The Museum of Bags and Purse, Amsterdam and The V & A Museum, London.
Purse or bags were very small at the beginning of the 17th century. This small flat rectangular bag is fairly simple in construction, the luxury being the Italian or Bavarian glass bead coverage. The brown geometric crosses with central yellow cross is very pretty. The turquoise glass beads surround these crosses again worked in a cross design. Pretty symbolic really when you remember the function as an alms purse to give charity. This small bag also has just about retained both of its original beaded side tassels, and remains of both its base corner looped tassels. Its drawstring chord is also original. Like extant examples at museums the woven silk top section is likely a later replacement. It once would have likely had a kid leather lining over the thick woven lining – long since perished.
Size: Purse body a tiny 4 inch tall by 4 1/2 inch wide (10 cm by 11.5 cm)
Condition: This nearly 400 year old example is not offered in perfect condition, as one would expect, it is showing signs of its vast age. PLEASE study our many images, zoom in and/or request more if needed. Our images form part of the description. This is nearly 400 years old, it is difficult to describe every sign of age. The two additional top chords would have had fancy tassels suspended from them, now vacant. The beadwork is as vibrant as it was in the 1640’s, however there is a central 1 inch vertical area of broken ground netting/missing beads to the reverse, shown in our images. As previously mentioned woven silk top section is likely a later replacement. It once would have likely had a kid leather lining over the top of the thick woven lining – long since perished
For similar purse see Domestic Needlework by G. Saville Seliciman and Talbot Hughes, plate 40, pub 1926
Item link @ Fitzwilliam Museum
Beads (opaque black, yellow, green and brick red; clear blue and gold) threaded on natural silk threads. Lined in leather, bound at top with pale blue satin. Around the top RE / MEMBER / THE / POOR / 1631. Cords for hanging and draw strings, pear-shaped beaded drops, each with two small tassels, three pairs of tassels on bottom edge.
Height: 5 in
Width: 5 in
Label text from the exhibition ‘Feast and Fast: The Art of Food in Europe, 1500–1800’, on display at The Fitzwilliam Museum from 26 November 2019 until 31 August 2020: This colourful beadwork purse acted as a reminder of the importance of charity and a public expression of piety, clearly expressed by the 2019-12-04-s, ‘REMEMBER THE POORE’. Every time the owner dipped her gloved hand inside to remove a coin, she would see this instruction. England, 1631 Satin, leather lining, silk thread, cord and polychrome glass beads.
Yup, this one is all mine. I’m still a bit in shock.
Here’s my observations:
Reference URL: https://collections.ashmolean.org/object/787469
Linen and silk fabrics, linen and metal threads, glass beads, wood; netted beadwork
This netted beadwork drawstring purse is a personal statement of political allegiance. The lion and unicorn support a crowned red rose under the initials C R for King Charles. The motto SI DEUS NOBISCUM QUIS CONTRA NOS (‘If God is with us, who is against us’) was quoted by Speaker Glanville addressing Charles in the House of Commons on 15 April 1640.
Dimensions: 16.5 x 23cm (height x width)
Inscription/mark: B M, Initials
THE FELLER COLLECTION. Gift of Michel and Elizabeth Feller, 2014, WA2014.71.22, Accession no.: WA2014.71.29
Presented by Micheál and Elizabeth Feller, in honour of Professor Christopher Brown, CBE, 2014.
Brooks, Mary M., Feller, Elizabeth; Holdsworth, Jacqueline, Micheál & Elizabeth Feller The Needlework Collection: 1 (UK, Hascombe; Needleprint, 2011), page illustrated: 118
English, 1631 (date of creation)
Material and technique: netted beadwork; glass beads, linen, leather, silk ribbon
Dimensions: 12.5 x 18cm (height x width)
Inscription/mark: THE GIFT OF A FRIEND 1631, on front and back in beadwork
Presented by Micheál and Elizabeth Feller, in honour of Professor Christopher Brown, CBE, 2014.
In the collection of the Asmolean Musuem, Oxford, UK
Accession no.: WA2014.71.33
https://collections.ashmolean.org/object/787473
Further reading:
Brooks, Mary M., Feller, Elizabeth; Holdsworth, Jacqueline, Micheál & Elizabeth Feller The Needlework Collection: 1 (UK, Hascombe; Needleprint, 2011), page illustrated: 114
Ambras Castle portrait of Vlad III (c. 1560), reputedly a copy of an original made during his lifetime.I normally wouldn’t include a recreated portrait, but it was supposedly based off the original, which is now lost. But I looked at that hat and thought it was worth ab mention. I personally think those rows of pearls are actually sequins with smaller or even seed-sized pearls. I mean, come on… It’s painted exactly how pearl studded sequins look.
This would have glittered in candlelight like a medieval disco ball!
View page at Leslie Antiques
An exceedingly rare beaded purse with multicolored glass beads on a leather base, and with beaded and wood toggle closures. This early purse might be unique because of its age and that the date is actually worked into the decoration as part of the phrase “Gift of a Friend 1632”. The interior of the purse is of a very soft, fine leather, probably deerskin or lambskin.
Especially considering its age the purse is in excellent and exceptional condition, with all the beadwork present. One of the pendent tassels at the bottom is missing, and there is some expected and minor wear to the material above the beadwork. All parts of the bag are structurally sound. The size is 5″ wide by 4 1/2″ tall, not including the tassels or drawstrings.
Height without straps 4 in.
British,
The rich brown leather of these gloves is unusual; most surviving gloves from the seventeenth century are lighter in color. However, the motifs embroidered on the gauntlets—pea pods and blossoms—were quite common during the period. Pea pods were often associated with romantic love. They are found on both household furnishings and other accessories of dress, such as a woman’s jacket of about the same date in the Museum’s collection (23.170.1).
Medium: Leather, satin worked with silk and metal thread, spangles; long-and-short, satin, detached buttonhole, couching stitches; metal bobbin lace; silk and metal ribbon
Dimensions: L. 13 1/2 x W. 6 1/2 inches (34.3 x 16.5 cm)
V&A Accession number T.55-1927 | link to item at V&A
The most luxurious embroidered purses, made in leather, velvet and silk, were used by both men and women. Women’s purses were similar to those carried by men, but smaller, taking the form of tasselled bags that closed with tasselled drawstrings. These were often embroidered, while beadwork on leather was also popular. The decoration on this purse depicts a sprig of green and yellow acorns between a pair of birds with lozenges and flowers. It is inscribed ‘I PRAY GOD TO B(sic) MY GUIDE 1634’.
A number of early 17th-century beaded bags bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck. These two examples carry the messages, ‘I pray God to B my guide 1634’ [T.55-1927] and ‘Hit or miss there it is 1628’ [T.250-1960]. They would have been used to carry either sweet-smelling herbs or small gifts. V&A, Room 40, Bags: Inside Out. (12/2020)
Bibliography: John Lea Nevinson, Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Textiles, London: HMSO, 1938, p.100, plate LXXII
Purse of purple velvet, comprising four sides bearing alternately the crowned monogram ‘DG’ or ‘ML’ or two intertwined hands under a burning heart, embroidered with multicolored silk, gold thread, pearls, sequins and rubies, anonymous, c. 1600 – c. 1625
Rijksmuseum – more info
(Google translated) Purple velvet Pouch, consisting of four chips on which alternately the crowned monogram ‘DG’ or ‘ML’ or two entwined hands under a burning heart, embroidered with multicolored silk, gold thread, pearls, lovers and rubies. Model: Each patte ends in tip and has five holes through which a cord of braided silk – ending in spheres and acorns – is pulled through. Lined with red silk; now fades to pink. Decoration: in the middle of each fries a shield at the top ending in a tip and crowned with a floral ornament of (originally gilded?) Silver canetille, freshwater pearls and a ruby in the middle. At the bottom, the shield flares into a point and the same lines form two curls in which a violet is made up of (gilt?) Silver canetille, freshwater pearls and a ruby in the middle. A monogram of freshwater pearls and gold thread is embroidered under a three-point crown. The seams between the different pattes are covered with a trimming of braided gold wire. The purse ends at the bottom center in a stepped ornament of braided gold wire (probably around a wooden core) ending in four braids with a ball. The drawstring ends in acorns and balls of braided gold wire

Translation via Google Translate:
Purse
Venice, end of the 16th century.
13x8x6 cm.
Cut velvet dark green silk embroidered in silver-gilt and silver yarn and curly, pearls, the application technique, the technique of blue silk satin stitch, silver sequins. Suspension and borders in gilt silver cord twisted yarn. Pink taffeta lining. The bag, unusual shape, could fulfill most uses: purses, comosuggests chuisa front pocket with a cord, door dust orportaprofumi. Wisely suspended the waist of the dress, very much in vogue, the ‘bag-shaped lute “and very valuable both for the quality of the embroidery and the richness of the materials for setting stistica.The plant motifs that adorn every part of the accessory are made with grace and richness of details highlighted by the many pearls placed in various parts in order to highlight the preziosita. This refined accessory, which certainly emphasized the sumptuousness of a ceremonial dress, it was probably a gift love, how can suggest two hearts pierced by two arrows, according to a custom widespread in the Renaissance.
The original description, in Italian:
BORSA
Venezia, fine del XVI secolo.
Cm. 13x8x6
Velluto tagliato di seta verde scuro ricamato in argento dorato e argento filato e riccio, perle, nella tecnica di applicazione; seta azzurra nella tecnica del punto raso; pailettes d’argento. Sospensione e bordure in cordoncino intrecciato d’argento dorato filato. Fodera in taffetas rosa acceso. La borsa, forma insolita, poteva assolvere a piu usi: portamonete, como suggerisce la tasca anteriore chuisa da un cordoncino, porta polveri o portaprofumi. Sapientemente sospesa alla cintura dell’abito, come imponeva la moda, la “borsetta a forma di liuto” e alquanto preziosa sia per la qualita del ricamo e la richezza dei materiali che per l’impostazione stistica. I motivi fitomorfi che ornano ogni parte dell’accessorio sono stati realizzati con grazia e ricchezza di particolari evidenziati dalle numerose perle collocate in varie parti per sottolinearne la preziosita.Questo raffinatissimo accessorio, che certo ribadiva la sontuosita di un abito cerimoniale, probabilmente era un dono d’amore, come possono suggerire i due cuori trafitti da due frecce, secondo un’usanza molto diffusa nell’epoca rinascimentale.
© I Mestieri della moda a Venezia dal XIII al XVIII Secolo. Ala Napoleonica E Museo Correr, Venice. 1988.
Small flat bag of coloured beads netted on a foundation of thick linen thread, and patterned with bird and flowers and inscribed ‘IN HOP ME HART DOTH REST’. With brown, green, white, yellow and blue beads. Lined with chamois leather. Above the beadwork is a band of material of green silk covered with a pale pink silk.
There is also a pink satin lining and pink ribbon handles. The pink silk and satin are probably later additions.
‘IN HOP ME HART DOTH REST’ (Inscribed in beadwork above the birds and flowers)
A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive. Their stylized floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy. Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money.
Link to page @ V&A
Materials & Making
The development of the ‘drawn-glass’ technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery.
Subjects Depicted
The expression ‘hit or miss’ is first recorded in the English language in William Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida published in 1606, where it has the same meaning of random luck that it has today. The expression may have derived from a country dance also known as ‘hit and miss’, recorded as early as 1626.
Purse of brown glass beads on a ground of netted silk. With a diamond diaper pattern in blue and white beads with clusters of green and blue beads at the intersections. In each diamond a letter ‘S’ in dark blue beads is surrounded by white and yellow beads. Lined with leather and buff silk. Two tassels of buff silk ribbon at the bottom.
I used to have a PDF for a class on some basic veil edging work and a little research. It was corrupted over the years and recently was asked to try to find it and was unable to.
But I did find THIS. And it’s far superior to what I had, and why re-invent the wheel when I can spread the love. So it’s linked below!
Point any Questions about it to the author, Dona Yasmina who has contact info on the last page of the document.
Hedwig Jagiello (1513-1573)
Hedwig Jagiello was born on March 15., 1513 in poznań and died on February 7., 1573 She was a polish princess from 1535 to 1535 until 1535
Hedwig was the daughter of the king of Poland. From Poland from his marriage to Barbara references, daughter of hungarian pala and magnet Stephan references.
She married on 1. September 1535 in krakow on 1. September 1535 in Krakow. Four children were born four children:
• Elisabeth (born). 1537; gesture. He married Duke Franz Otto, married to Duke Franz Otto of Brunswick-Lüneburg (Born 1595). 1530; gesture. 1559
• Sigismund (born). 1538; gesture. 1566), Prince of Brandenburg, Archbishop of magdeburg and bishop of Berlin
• Hedwig (born). 1540; gesture. 1602), princess of Brandenburg, married to Duke Julius of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel
• Sophia (born). 1541; gesture. 1564), princess of Brandenburg, married to Wilhelm Von Rosenberg
The Strictly Catholic Princess held on her faith, even when her husband turned to Lutheran teaching and began the reformation in Brandenburg. Joachim had released his wife to accept the new marriage or to remain faithful to the old man.
She accompanied her husband in 1541 to regensburg in 1541 When Joachim accepted Luther’s teaching, she remained with her catholic faith in her Catholic Faith, which gave her the spouse after interventions from Krakow.
After the death of Joachim II. In 1571 she lived at the castle of ruppin castle in old ruppin. She died there at the age of 59 on February 7., 1573.
.
Source:
Www. Gene. Org
Www. Berlin-the capital. They
Www. DB-Thueringen. They
(Digital Library Thuringia)
Www Yes Wow! PL
(German Historical Institute Warsaw)
Www. Universes-Mercatores-of-Hansa-Theutonicorum. From
(Universitatis Jagellonica Cracoviensis acta scientiarum)
Literature:
– Johann Dorner: Duchess Hedwig and her court state: everyday life at the castle castle according to original sources of the 15. th century, volume 53 of Burgundy’s history leaves
– Juliane Jacobi: Pre-Modern Education: Self-and foreign descriptions in the early modern period (contributions to historical education research, volume 41), page 216, ISBN 10: 9783412204921 AND ISBN 13: 978-3412204921
Image: Hedwig Princess of brandenburg at 1535, portrayed by Hans Krell (1490-1565)
Beaded leather bag, 1630s, British; inscribed ‘heare et is hit or miss’, acorn pattern
A number of beaded bags from the early 17th century survive. Their stylized floral patterns and less expensive materials imitate the elaborate embroidered versions carried by the aristocracy. Many bear mottos or expressions relating to charity, friendship or luck, which suggests that they may have been used for gifts of money. This example is inscribed ‘heare et is hit or miss’.
The development of the ‘drawn-glass’ technique about 1490 allowed the manufacture of large numbers of small, round, coloured beads with a central hole, of the type used in this purse. The glassworks on the island of Murano near Venice were the most famous during the Renaissance, but by the early 17th century the technology had spread to glass-making centres in Amsterdam and Bavaria. Beads were produced mainly for trade with North America and Africa, but they were also sold in Europe for use in embroidery.
The expression ‘hit or miss’ is first recorded in the English language in William Shakespeare’s play Troilus and Cressida published in 1606, where it has the same meaning of random luck that it has today. The expression may have derived from a country dance also known as ‘hit and miss’, recorded as early as 1626.
Physical description: A flat, square leather bag, covered with red, white, green, yellow and blue glass beads in a repeating pattern of stylized acorns. It has silver thread loops, silk tassels and holes in the leather for a drawstring
Place of Origin: Great Britain (made)
Date: 1630-1639 (made)
Materials and Techniques: Kidskin, glass beads, linen thread, silk thread, silver thread; hand sewn, hand beaded
Dimensions: Length: 13.0 cm approx., bag only, Width: 14.6 cm approx., bag only
Beaded leather bag, 1630s, British; inscribed ‘heare et is hit or miss’, acorn pattern
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no): John Lea Nevinson, Catalogue of English Domestic Embroidery of the Sixteenth & Seventeenth Centuries, Victoria and Albert Museum, Department of Textiles, London: HMSO, 1938, p.100
Materials: Kidskin; Glass beads; Linen thread; Silk thread; Silver thread
This is from a SCA researcher, who did a rather spectacular bit of research into those amazing gold German cauls you see often. Sometimes they look like beads, but sometimes they don’t, and here is a bit of info on what they are!
I will just send you there since it’s not entirely beads, even though a decorative thing with a hole technically qualifies, but it is late to post period so – off you go!
Location: Scheer, Catholic parish church of St. Nicholas & former collegiate church
Date:1601/1700
Item:Krone
Genus:Applied Arts
Material / Technique:enamel, pearl, gemstone
Link to this page:https://www.bildindex.de/document/obj20745011
Record of:Bildarchiv Foto Marburg